Nancy Sells Glass

Otherwise known as a work in progress! Here’s one I’ve been working on this week. I’ve been having a heck of a time getting the hollows to match up. Sometimes I can do them with my eyes closed… sometimes not! I got the idea for this color combination from the swimming suit I bought this spring. I swear I get some of my favorite jewelry ideas from the swimming suits I’ve had over the last few years!

Short and sweet today ~ I have work to do!

It’s been a busy week at the Puffer house! And my blog has suffered… I’m in jewelry mode at the moment getting new pieces ready to wear to the ISGB Gathering in a couple weeks. A girl just can’t wear the same thing every year!

I’ve also been getting beads made to put into earrings and pendants. It sure is a juggling act trying to balance making beads, creating jewelry and still enjoying summer! I’ve got myself so worked up that my heart has decided to skip a beat every once in awhile so I’m in the process of figuring out what’s causing THAT! My doctor’s best guess is that it’s just stress. But until I get some answers, that’s taking up a fair portion of my brain… It’s always something, isn’t it!

Be back soon with a couple more Gathering ensembles…

The reality of all the work I have ahead of me over the next few months has hit! I was up tossing and turning till after 2AM yesterday. So much is involved in preparing for a three day show… Making beads, turning them into jewelry, planning the booth, packaging, pricing and onandonandonandon! Twelve weeks will be gone in no time.

So I started a list last night. I figure getting all the details written down will release some of the storm swirling around in my brain. Breaking everything down into smaller, more manageable pieces… that’s the ticket! I’ll let you know how it goes.

Nancy Sells Puffer is a lampwork bead/jewelry artist from Grand Rapids, MI. Visit her website at www.nancysellsglass.com

We just got back from a great, long, holiday weekend so I’m just going to show you a picture of the latest addition to my Dsk!Dsk! Dsk! series… I’ll be back later this week with more!

I finally bit the bullet, summoned up my courage and applied to the St. James Court Art Show in Louisville, KY.  My buddy Paula talked me into applying ~ she’s done it for several years now and swears it’s the best show around. A couple weeks ago I found out it got in! How very cool! The only downside is that it’s the first weekend in October… the week before the West Michigan Bead Expo!! What have I done to myself?! :O

So I’m beginning to prepare now. I’m trying to get on the torch everyday with a certain goal each time… Think I can do it?! I sure hope so… I’ll keep you updated and share some of the things I’m making along the way. And if you happen to be in Louisville October 3,4 or 5, come and see me!

I’ve just discovered a new venue for selling my pieces. It’s a German based website that is very similar to Etsy. Since I want to reach out to a larger base, I thought I’d give DaWanda a try. It’s been interesting learning a little bit about the Euro as I have to list my prices that way! Here’s a link to a US to Euro converter you’d like to check out some of the pieces up for sale…

Let me know if you’ve tried DaWanda or know of someone who has. It’s fairly new to those of us in the US and I’d like to start spreading the news!

I got great news yesterday! Seems the necklace that was in the October 2006 issue of Bead and Button is now going to be one of the projects in Chic and Easy Beading, Vol. 3 coming out in 2009!!! How fun is that? I didn’t do a thing and now I’m going to be published in my first book.  And here I’ve been thinking about submitting some new pieces to a few of the magazines. Looks like I better follow through, eh? 2009 may just be my year!

I’m going to start adding pieces to Etsy and my website this week and the first thing I’m putting up is one of my seashell pendants. I’m always looking for new things to add to my jewelry and lately I’ve been incorporating the shells and stones I’ve found on vacations… I like to think I’ve created something a little unique! But we’ll see…

Next up will be a Stone Dot ring using a Lake Superior stone I picked up along the beach at my cousin’s home in the UP…

No beads for me this weekend! My husband Dave and I have been out getting used to our new (for us) sailboat. Our daughter’s gone with friends so we’ve been able to spend most of our weekend sailing. She’s a 1977 25ft. Catalina we’ve christened Cherus, which is the Hebrew word for freedom. We’re loving how strong and secure she feels. We haven’t had a boat for three years so it’s taking me awhile to get back into the groove. But the last couple days have really helped me get my sea legs back!

Sailing is my second passion. There’s nothing like catching a good wind and skimming across the water. We’re hoping to buy a larger boat at some point and live aboard it for a few years. I’ll have to get a lot of beads made up so I can make and sell jewelry at the different ports we’ll sail into…

Tomorrow I’ll be back in the studio making beads so I can finally start putting pieces up on my website and Etsy store. But for now, it’s back out to Cherus with Dave for a couple more hours of sailing!

Just a quick note after way too long. I’m creating again and loving what I’m doing. I’m actually working on my first intentional series of jewelry called Dsk! Dsk! Dsk! I’ve written an entry for Watch Me Create that explains it in more detail.

It’s good to be back…. more later!